Starter



Jan. 29, 1963 E. KAWECKI ETAL STARTER Filed Nov. 16, 1959 Jan. 29, 1963 E. KAWECKI EIAL STARTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed NOV. 16. 1959 INVENTORS. Aaweclr. 24 74.: t2 flrriersazz 2 x1 erre J0 Jan. 29, 1963 E. KAWECKI ETAL STARTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16. 1959 E IN V EN TOR-9.

.z'ygexe Ida e c if. Z70 21 74.: 6", inlets 2221 #rrax/vr/st United States Patent 3,075,510 STARTER Eugene Kawecki, Birmingham, and Douglas G. Anderson,

Ferndale, Mich., assignors to Clinton Engines Corporation, Clinton, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,418 14 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) This invention relates to a starter for an internal combustion engine and has particular reference to a spring starter for a small internal combustion engine of the type employed on lawn mowers.

According to the present invention the starter comprises a spiral spring having one end connected to a part which is adapted to drivingly engage an engine driven part and a winding mechanism for winding up the spring to store energy therein. A release mechanism is provided for releasing the spring after it is wound up so that it will drive the engine driven part to crank the engine. The present invention is characterized by the provision of an improved cranking mechanism in a starter of this type. The present invention also provides a release mechanism which is simple to operate and which does not require movement of any of the parts which are rotated during cranking of the engine.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved spring powered starter for an internal combustion engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a starter of the type described having an improved cranking means which prevents the engine from transmitting a turning force to the crank during normal running of the engine or in the event of a backfire when the engine is being started.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring powered starter which can be wound up manually with a minimum of effort and then released to crank the engine by manipulating the crank handle to actuate the release mechanism.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention and what we now consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a starter constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the starter;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

' FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view illustrating the cranking mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 9-9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the starter in its released position for cranking the engine;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the release mechanism; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

The starter is adapted to be mounted on the shroud or other housing portion of an internal combustion engine over the end of the crankshaft 10 of the engine which on line 'ice has the flywheel 12 secured thereon. The projecting end of the crankshaft also carries a starter cup 14 which is secured to the crankshaft by a nut 16. The starter includes a housing 18 provided at its lower open end with mounting lugs 20 having apertures 22 adapted to receive bolts for securing the starter to the engine. The lower portion of the side walls of the housing 18 is provided with openings 24 through which air may pass to the flywheel and fan 12.

A bottom plate 26 closes the lower end of the starter housing 18 and is secured to the housing by bolts 28 which extend upwardly into bosses provided in the side walls of the housing. A pin 30 is journaled at its lower end in the bottom plate 26 and at its upper end within a boss 32 projecting downwardly from the top wall 34 of the housing 18 The spring power means is illustrated in the form of two separate springs 36 which are identical in construction. Each of the springs 36 has its outer end riveted to a strap 38 which is wrapped around the pin 30. The springs 36 are wound in spiral fashion around the interior of the housing and have their inner ends received within one of the teeth 40 on a sprocket 42. The lower spring 36 is confined within a spring casing 44 having a wall 46 which serves to separate the two springs 36. The upper spring is also confined within a similar spring casing 48.

The sprocket 42 is secured on a sleeve 50 which is rotatably journaled at its upper end in a boss 52 projecting downwardly from the underside of the top wall 34 of the housing 18 and at-its lower end in a bushing 54 which is pressed into an opening in the bottom plate 26. A ratchet 56 is threaded into the lower end of the sleeve 50 and is provided with axially extending teeth 58. The ratchet 56 projects into the starter cup 14 through a cover plate 60 which is secured on the cup 14. The sprocket 42 and the ratchet 56 are secured on the sleeve 50 for rotation therewith, and these three parts constitute a winding drum. 1

' The starter cup is provided with one or more blades 62, which have cylindrical portions 64 rotatable within sockets 66 formed in suitable bosses 68 on the cylindrical wall of the starter cup 14. The blades 62 are urged inwardly into engagement with the teeth 58 on the ratchet 56 by springs 70 which may be made of rubber or some other resilient material, or which may be in the form of metal leaf springs if desired. The springs 70 have their inner ends secured within sockets 72 formed in bosses 74 formed on the wall of the starter cup 14.

The pin 30 is provided with a shoulder seated on the spring casing 48 and engaged by a pinion 82 having a square aperture receiving a squared portion 84 of the pin 30. The pin 30 is round above the squared portion 84 so that it is rotatable within the boss 32. A pawl 86 is rotatably mounted on the pin 30 and is confined between a washer 88 and the lower end of the boss 32. A gear 90 is rotatab-ly journaled on the sleeve 50 and is meshed with the pinion 82. The underside of the gear 90 engages the upper surface of the sprocket 42, while the upper side of the gear 90 is engaged by the lower end of boss 52 and ribs 92 formed on the upper wall 34 of the housing A crank yoke 94 has a pair of upstanding arms 96 and a bottom wall 98 which is rotatable on the upper end of the shaft 30. A crank lever 100 is pivoted on the arms 96 of the yoke 94 by means of rivets or pins 102. The crank 100 is provided with a handle grip 104. The crank lever 100 is generally channel shaped in cross section, and the bottom wall 106 of the lever 100 is deflected downwardly on one side of the center line of the lever to form a drive lug 108, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A disc 110 is secured on the upper end of th-eshaf-t 30 by a screw 112.

arr/5,510

The pin is provided with a pair of flats 114 receiving a correspondingly shaped aperture in the disc 110 so that the disc is rotatable with the shaft 30. As shown in FIGS. 4, and 8, the disc 11% is stamped to provide a plurality of shoulders 116 which are deflected above the plane of the disc so that any one of the shoulders 116 may be engagedby the drive lug 1118 on the crank lever 100 when the lever is in the cranking position illustrated in FIG. 1. With the crank lever in this position, rotation thereof in a clockwise direction as viewed from above will rotate the pinion shaft 30 through the drive disc 11%, thereby rotating the pinion 82 and the gear 93, the latter turning in a counterclockwise direction.

The sleeve 50 is provided with diametrically opposed radial openings 120 which lie in the plane of the gear 90. 'lfhegear is provided with a plurality of recesses 122 around its central bore which is journaled on the sleeve 50. A ball 124 is located within each of the radial openings 120 formed in the sleeve 50 and, with the parts in the cranking position shown in FIG. 1, the balls 124 each extend outwardly through one of the openings 120 into one of the recesses 122 formed in the gear 90, thereby providing a driving connection between the gear 91} and the sleeve 50 and the sprocket 42 and ratchet 56 which are secured to and rotatable with the sleeve 50. The halls 124 are maintained in engagement with the gear 96 by a release button 126 which is axial-1y slidable within the sleeve 50. The release button 126 has a shoulder 128 at its lower end and a cylindrical upper end 136. Between the shoulder 128 and the portion 13% the release button 126 is provided with a cam portion 132 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, l0 and 11. A spring 134 within the sleeve 50 urges the release button 126 to its uppermost position illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the lower cam portion 136- on the release button forces the balls 124 radially out.- wardly into one of the recesses 122 on the gear 90. With the parts in this position, rotation of the crank lever 100 in a clockwise direction will rotate the sleeve 50 and the sprocket 42 in a counterclockwise direction to wind up the springs 36. The blades 62 on the starter cup 14 will slip past the teeth 58 on the ratchet 56 duringthe winding operation.

The engine may be started after the spring is wound up by pressing the release button 126 to bring the smaller diameter cam portion 138 of the release button opposite the openings 120 in the sleeve 56, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11. The gear 90 exerts a camming action on the balls 124 when the springs 36 are wound up so that, as the release button 126 is depressed, the balls 124 are forced radially inwardly through the openings 120 into engagement with the cam portion 133, thereby disengaging the balls 124 from the recesses 122 on the gear 90. The sleeve 50 and the sprocket 42 and ratchet 56 which are secured thereto are then free to rotate as the springs 36unw-ind in a clockwise direction as viewed from above. The teeth on ratchet 56 will engage the blades 62 on the starter cup 14 to rotate the starter cup and crank the eng ine. The sleeve 50 is provided with an annular groove 140 which intersects the upper edge of the radial openings 120. A spring 142 in the form of a circular ring of spring steel is located in the groove 140 and engages the balls 124. The spring 142 contracts as the balls 124 move inwardly and prevents the balls from re-engaging the gear 90 under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the sleeve 50. After the engine has started, the blades 62 will disengage the teeth 58 on the ratchet 56'under the influence of centrifugal force so that during normal running of the engine the starter cup is completely disengaged from any of the starter mechanism.

The pawl 86 is provided with a downwardly turned end 150 which engages the teeth on thegear 90 to prevent rotation of the gear 90 in a clockwise direction. A spring 152 is wrapped around the boss 32 and has one end 154 engaging the starter housing and its other end 156 engagingthe end 150 of the pawl 86 to urge the pawl into en- 4 gagement with the gear 911. The crank lever therefore can be rotated in only one direction when it is in the cranking position illustrated in FIG. 1, and the pawl 86 holds the spring in its wound-up condition and insures that no force can be transmitted back through the winding mechanism to the crank lever 160.

The release button 126 may be depressed by manipulation of the crank lever 100. After the spring is wound up, the lever 100 may be folded over to the position shown in FIG. 10 in which the drive lug 108 is disengaged from the drive disc 110. The lever may then be rotated until it overlies the release but-ton 126 since the yoke 94 is freely rotatable on the pinion shaft 30. The upper surface of the crank lever 100 is formed, as shown in FIG. 12, to engage the upper end of the release button 126 so that depression of the crank lever 100 will shift the release button 126 axially downwardly to the released position shown in FIG. 10. The crank lever 100 is therefore completely disengaged from any of the starting mechanism when in its foldedover position, thereby providing an added safety feature which prevents any possibility of the force of the springs 36 being transmitted to the crank lever, which, if it occurs, might cause serious injury to the operator.

It will be seen that the release mechanism described herein is such that it is not necessary to shift any of the rotating parts of the winding mechanism in an axial direction in order to effect release of the springs 36. There are no rotating parts which are exposed during the cranking operation, thereby eliminating the possibility of accidental injuries to the operator.

While two separate power springs 36 have been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that a single spring of suitable size may be employed if desired.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1, A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing mountedon the engine over said driven part, a winding drum rotatably journaled in said housing, a pinion, a gear meshed with said pinion and rotatably journaled on said winding drum, crank for rotating said pinion and gear, a pawl for preventing reverse rotation otsaid gear, a spiral spring having its outer end secured to'the starter housing and its inner end engageable with said winding drum, said drum having a radial opening therein in the plane of said gear, said gear having a recess aligned with said opening, a drive member in said opening and engaging in said recess to providea driying'connection between said gear and said drum to permit the spring to be wound up upon rotation of said gear, a release button engaging said drive member to force the latter into said recess, said release button being manually depressible to allow said drive member to move radially inwardly through said opening out of engagement with said gear to break the driving connection between said winding drum and gear to permit rotation of said drum as the spring unwinds, and means on said drum engageable with said engine driven part for cranking the engine as the spring unwinds. v

2. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing mounted on the engine over said driven part, a winding drum rotatably journaled in said housing, a drum winding means including a member rotatably mounted on said winding drum, a pawl for preventing reverse rota tion of said member, a spiral spring having its outer end secured to the starter housing and its inner end en.- gageable with said winding drum, said drum having a radial opening therein, said winding member having a recess aligned with said opening, a drive member in said opening and engaging in said recess to provide a driving connection between said winding member and said drum to permit the spring to be wound up upon rotation of said winding member, a release button engaging said drive member to force the latter into said recess, said release button being manually depressible to allow said drive member to move radially inwardly through said opening out of engagement with said winding member to break the driving connection between said winding member and drum to permit rotation of said drum as the spring unwinds, and means on said drum engageable with said engine driven part for cranking the engine as the spring unwinds.

3. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a rotatable winding drum, a pinion, a gear meshed with said pinion and rotatably journaled on said winding drum, means for rotating said pinion and gear, a pawl for preventing reverse rotation of said gear, a spiral spring having one end engageable with said winding drum, means holding the other end of the spring stationary, said drum having an opening therein, said gear having a recess opposite said opening, a drive member in said opening and engaging in said recess to provide a driving connection between said gear and said drum to permit the spring to be wound up upon rotation of said gear, a release button engaging said drive member to force the latter into said. recess, said release button being manually depressible to allow said drive member to move through said opening out of engagement with said gear to break the driving connection between said windnig drum and gear to permit rotation of said drum as the spring unwinds, and means on said drum engageable with said engine driven part for cranking the engine as the spring unwinds.

4. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing mounted on the engine over said driven part, a sprocket rotatably journaled in said housing, a spiral spring having its outer end secured to the starter housing and its inner end engageable with said sprocket, a crank, means providing a driving connection between said crank and sprocket for rotating said sprocket to wind up said spring, means on said sprocket engageable with said engine driven part for cranking the engine a the spring unwinds, said driving connection comprising a first part rotatable with said crank and a second part rotatable with said sprocket, a drive member connecting said first and second parts to provide said driving connection, a manually operable release means engaging said drive member to hold the latter in driving engagement with said first and second parts, said release means being movable out of said engagement with said drive member, means independent of said release means for moving said drive member out of engagement with one of said parts to break said driving connection, and spring means for holding said drive member out of engagement with said one part.

5. A starter according to claim 4 including a spring urging said release means into said engagement with said drive member.

6. A starter according to claim 5 wherein said crank is engageable with said release means to move the latter out of said engagement with said drive member.

7. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing mounted on the engine, a sleeve rotatably journaled in said housing, a pinion, a gear meshed with said pinion and rotatably journaled on said sleeve, means for preventing reverse rotation of said gear, a spiral spring having one end secured to the starter housing and its other end engageable with said sleeve, a release button slidable axially within said sleeve, a crank for rotating said pinion and gear, said sleeve having a plurality of radial openings therein in the plane of said gear, said gear having a plurality of recesses aligned with said operiings in said sleeve, a ball in each of said openings, said release button in one axial position engaging said balls to force the latter into said recesses to provide a driving connection between said gear and said sleeve to permit the spring to be wound up, spring means urging said release button to said one position, said release button being manually depressible to allow said balls to move inwardly through said openings out of engagement with said gear to break the driving connection between said sleeve and gear to permit rotation of said sleeve as the spring unwinds, and means carried by said sleeve and engageable with said engine driven part for cranking the engine as the spring unwinds.

8. A starter according to claim 7 including spring means urging said balls inwardly through said openings in said sleeve.

9. In a spring starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, said starter including a starter housing, a winding drum rotatably journaled in said housing and engageable with said engine drive part, and a spiral spring having'one end secured to the starter housing and its other end engageable with said winding drum; crank means for rotating said drum to wind said spring, comprising a pinion shaft,'a pinion secured on said shaft, a gear meshed with said pinion, means providing a driving connection between said gear and said winding drum, a crank yoke rotatable on said shaft, a crank lever pivotally connected to said yoke on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a drive disc secured on said shaft, and a drive lug on said crank lever,

said lever being pivotable on said yoke to a cranking position in which said drive lug drivingly engages said disc to rotate said winding drum upon rotation of said crank lever, said crank lever being pivotable to a second position in which said drive lug is disengaged from said disc to break the driving connection between said lever and said winding drum.

10. In a spring starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, said starter including a starter housing, a winding drum rotatably journaled in said housing and engageable with said engine drive part, and a spiral spring having one end secured to the starter housing and its other end engageable with said winding drum; crank means for rotating said drum to wind said spring, comprising a shaft, means providing a driving connection between said shaft and said winding drum, a crank yoke rotatable on said shaft, a crank lever pivotally connected to said yoke on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, -a drive disc secured on said shaft, and a drive lug on said crank lever, said lever being pivotable on said yoke to a cranking position in which said drive lug drivingly engages said disc to rotate the latter and said winding drum upon rotation of said crank lever, said crank lever being pivotable to a second position in which said drive lug is disengaged from said disc to break the driving connection between said lever and said winding drum.

11. In a starter according to claim 10, manually operable release means for breaking said driving connection between said shaft and said winding drum, said crank lever when in said second position thereof being engageable with said release means.

l2. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing adapted to be mounted on the engine over said engine driven part, a sprocket rotatably journaled in said housing, a spiral spring having one end secured to said housing and its other end engageable with said sprocket, a crank, means including a movable drive member providing a driving connection between said crank and sprocket for rotating said sprocket to wind up said spring, means on said sprocket engageable with said engine driven part for cranking said engine as the spring unwinds, manually operable release means engaging said drive member to hold the latter in position to provide said driving connection, said release means being movable to permit movement of said drive member, and means operable in, response to initial rotation of said sprocket by said spring for moving said drive member to break said driving connection.

13. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter housing adapted to be mounted on the engine over said engine driven part, a sprocket rotatably journaled in said housing, a spiral spring having one end secured to said housing and its other end engageable. with said sprocket, a crank, means providing a driving connection between said crank and sprocket for rotating said sprocket to wind up said spring, means on said sprocket engageable with said engine driven part for cranking said engine as the spring unwinds, said driving connection comprising a first part rotatable with said crank, a second part rotatable with said sprocket and, adrive member connecting said first and second parts in driving relation, manually operable release means engaging said drive member to hold the latter in engagement with said first and second parts, said release means being movable out of said engagement with said drive member, and means operable in response to initial rotation of said sprocket by said spring for moving said drive member out of engagement with one of said parts to break said driving connection.

14. A starter for an internal combustion engine having a part driven with the engine, comprising a starter. housing adapted to bemounted on the engine over said engine driven part, a sprocket rotatably journaled in said housing, a spiral spring having one end secured to said housing and its other end engageable with said sprocket, a crank, means providing a driving connection between said crank and sprocket for rotating said sprocket to wind up said spring, means on said sprocket engageable with said engine driven part for cranking said engine as the spring unwinds, said driving connection comprising a first part rotatable with said cnank, a second part rotatable with said sprocket and a drive member connecting said first and second parts in driving relation, manually operable release means engaging said drive member to hold the latter in engagement with said first and second parts, said release means being movable out of said engagement with said drive member, and means operable after said release means is disengaged from said drive member for moving said drive member out of engagement with one of said parts to break said driving connection.

References Cited in the file, of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,694 Keller Apr. 13, 1915 2,042,841 Harmon June 2, 1936 2,622,701 Kellog ,et al Dec. 23, 1952 2,744,586 Blankenburg May 8, 1956 2,875,851 Vakos Mar. 3, 1959 2,950,780 De Millar Aug. 30, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 91,902 Sweden Apr. 1, 1 938 

1. A STARTER FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A PART DRIVEN WITH THE ENGINE, COMPRISING A STARTER HOUSING MOUNTED ON THE ENGINE OVER SAID DRIVEN PART, A WINDING DRUM ROTATABLY JOURNALED IN SAID HOUSING, A PINION, A GEAR MESHED WITH SAID PINION AND ROTATABLY JOURNALED ON SAID WINDING DRUM, A CRANK FOR ROTATING SAID PINION AND GEAR, A PAWL FOR PREVENTING REVERSE ROTATION OF SAID GEAR, A SPIRAL SPRING HAVING ITS OUTER END SECURED TO THE STARTER HOUSING AND ITS INNER END ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID WINDING DRUM, SAID DRUM HAVING A RADIAL OPENING THEREIN IN THE PLANE OF SAID GEAR, SAID GEAR HAVING A RECESS ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING, A DRIVE MEMBER IN SAID OPENING AND ENGAGING IN SAID RECESS TO PROVIDE A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID GEAR AND SAID DRUM TO PERMIT THE SPRING TO BE WOUND UP UPON ROTATION OF SAID GEAR, A RELEASE BUTTON ENGAGING SAID DRIVE MEMBER TO FORCE THE LATTER INTO SAID RECESS, SAID RELEASE BUTTON BEING MANUALLY DEPRESSIBLE TO ALLOW SAID DRIVE MEMBER TO MOVE RADIALLY INWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GEAR TO BREAK THE DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID WINDING DRUM AND GEAR TO PERMIT ROTATION OF SAID DRUM AS THE SPRING UNWINDS, AND MEANS ON SAID DRUM ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ENGINE DRIVEN PART FOR CRANKING THE ENGINE AS THE SPRING UNWINDS. 